Dodgers: Seven-player deal is one of baseball's biggest. All-star catcher's departure signals end of O'Malley era and puts Fox Group's stamp on its new franchise.

In a shocking move that slams the door on the O'Malley era of Dodger baseball, the new regime running the franchise completed one of the biggest trades in baseball history Friday night by sending all-star catcher Mike Piazza to the Florida Marlins in a seven-player deal.

The salaries of the players involved make it the most expensive trade in baseball history at $109.3 million.

Word of the deal emerged early Friday, but a formal announcement was delayed until after the Dodgers' 4-2 loss to the Montreal Expos because the teams were waiting for Sheffield, who had a no-trade clause in his Marlins contract, to approve the blockbuster deal.

Sheffield arrived Friday afternoon in Los Angeles with his agent, Jim Neader, and met with officials from the Fox Group, which owns the Dodgers, for several hours at Dodger Stadium. He waived the no-trade clause late Friday.

News of the deal stunned players and fans. Piazza has been among the most popular players in franchise history and had become a Southland sports icon as well as one of the game's most marketable players.

The trade was brokered by team President Bob Graziano, who had been a longtime aide to former Dodger owner Peter O'Malley. Cut out of the transaction, sources said, were veteran Dodger policymakers Fred Claire, Tom Lasorda and O'Malley. Chase Carey, chairman and chief executive of Fox Television, also played an active role in the early stages of the deal and made Graziano his point man to close the transaction.

O'Malley's sale of the franchise to the Fox Group became official on March 19, and there have been rumblings within the organization for months that Claire's power had diminished under Graziano, who was given the job that many thought should have gone to Claire.

"Fox certainly wasted no time changing the O'Malley image," said Baltimore Oriole General Manager Pat Gillick

"The trade came about because of a broader discussion between the people at Fox and the Florida Marlins," Graziano said. "But specifically, it was based on my recommendation."

From a salary standpoint, it's the biggest baseball trade ever. The combination of salaries of the players involved is the highest in baseball history at $109.3 million. The Dodgers assume $83 million in payroll from the Marlins, including the remaining $17.7 million owed to Bonilla, Johnson's $3.3-million contract and Eisenreich's $1.4 million.

The departure from Los Angeles of one of the most recognizable names in baseball also caused a scramble among the Dodgers' broadcast outlets: KTLA (Channel 5) and Fox Sports West 2. Both moved quickly to yank ads featuring Piazza and replace them with new ones.

Because the Marlins are trying to reduce their payroll, Piazza and Zeile are expected to be traded to teams contending for the playoffs before Major League Baseball's July 31 trading deadline.

"I'm not going to worry about what may happen down the road, because that's out of my control," Piazza said. "Your first reaction in something like this is to lash out, because of the way you feel after everything you've tried to give of yourself to help an organization be successful.

"But I didn't think that would be very wise or very mature on my part. The Marlins want me, so I'm just going to feel good about that for now."

The deal was completed late during Friday's game when the Dodgers addressed some of Sheffield's concerns about taxes, since there is no state income tax in Florida. The Dodgers did not pick up Sheffield's option year in 2004.

Sheffield said late Friday he is happy to be a Dodger.

"It wasn't a matter of getting away from Florida," he said. "I just wanted to be in a traditional organization, an organization that made me feel good. The Dodgers overwhelmed me, and that played a big role in me wanting to come here.

"It was a tough situation for me to be deciding the futures of those other guys. I'm just really happy the way this worked out."

Piazza said Friday he plans to be in the Marlins' lineup today when they play the Cardinals at St. Louis.

The Dodgers "told me it was pretty much done, so the way I look at it, I'm a member of the Florida Marlins right now," he said Friday afternoon. "I'm just trying to get ready to be a part of the Marlins, so I really can't concern myself with all the other stuff.

"The Dodgers have made a business decision, and I accept and understand that; I now just want to concentrate on giving 150% to the Marlins."